Anatomical variation of the superficial preprostatic veins with respect to radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Abstract

The anatomical variations of the veins within the retropubic adipose tissue anterior to the prostate in 160 patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy are described. A single midline vein was present in approximately 60% of the cases. In another 20% there was bifurcation of the single midline vein with the majority having a right or left pelvic sidewall branch. Various anomalous distributions were present in 10% of the cases and the superficial veins were completely absent in the remaining 10%.